The Breathwork News

Transformations publishes an e-newsletter featuring international breathwork news and related activities from the School of Spiritual Psychology. To receive this free publication via e-mail or to contribute items contact info@transformationsusa.com

Breathwork Articles

The Height and Breath of a Person: Breathwork's Doorway to the Self

by Jim Morningstar, Ph.D.

Ancient Tradition has it that God created man by breathing life into mud. Many people today are rediscovering this primal creative breath and in so doing opening the door to an astounding experience of Self. Breathwork not only opens this door but also becomes a self-guided tool for daily centering and creativity.

Measuring ourselves and our worth by external standards is what has led to competitive and shame based egos. Honoring and experiencing our connection to the Spirit of Breath within is the great equalizer, the leveler of egos and the birth of new life based on our essential Self.

The entrance to this life of heightened awareness is literally right under our nose–our breath. It is so simple as to be easily dismissed. But the most profound is the most simple–not necessarily the most easy. Forms of breathwork have been with us probably since breathing was invented. Various forms of yoga have used breath awareness and mastery for thousands of years. It was a rediscovery and a popularization of new breathwork techniques in the 1970's (known as rebirthing) by Leonard Orr that has ignited a fire that is spreading around the globe at an astonishing rate.

A breathwork session typically involves approximately an hour of concentrated connected breathing that works on the levels of body, mind and spirit.

Body:

Learning how to sustain a relaxed yet full breathing rhythm through whatever tension that arises in the body is a precious gift. Chronic holding patterns in muscle as well as connective tissue can be released without exterior manipulation. Once this is learned, a life-long method of tension relief is attained. This is an art form and not a mechanical process. One must sense the right breathing pattern for the appropriate circumstances. Like any skill, it develops with practice.

They are individually developed tools for the reconstruction of a new consciousness. Along with the continued practice of the breathing technique, the affirmations provide a daily reinforcement of a new level of enjoyment in life.

Spirit:

Breathwork's underlying philosophy is that the key to new life is accepting total responsibility for union with your Self or oneness with the Divine Spirit. This means a willingness to go beyond your small self and letting your breath be your guide and friend en route. This is not a process of speculation and philosophizing but rather of direct experience. No one tells you your truth. You know it directly by virtue of your courage to go past fears and self doubts. Others celebrate with you on your path but do not control or interpret it for you.

Cycle of Breath:

A breathwork session often involves:

1) a beginning in which one experiments and discovers how to sustain a connected full rhythm,

2) a middle period of building an energetic charge to a point of release, and

3) an ending period during which the released energy is grounded and suggestions for application are integrated.

Breath and Energy Releases:

Holding patterns in our breath mechanism frequently date back to our very birth. Many people have actual memories of their birth and the fear that generated their holding. But this memory is not necessary to the release process. There is a distinct difference in the ease and pleasure of the breath after the moment of breath release. This is most often followed by an energy release felt throughout the body. The physical sensations of this vary with individuals and relate to dissolution of our chronic areas of suppression.

Completion:

Most people work through a series of five to ten sessions with a breath coach or breathworker to gain the confidence to continue the practice on their own. This practice involves a heightened awareness of the breath as a moment-by-moment barometer of our conscious states. The practice is furthered by occasional formal sessions done alone, with a friend or a breathworker. This does not guarantee permanent bliss but gives me direct access to a "powerful medicine" for the altering of stuck energies–physical, mental and spiritual. More and more I experience the truth that all that I need is inside me.

Resources:

The International Breathwork Training Alliance (breathworkalliance.org) is a central source for information on affiliated breathwork centers worldwide as well as research and literature in several languages. Groups, seminars, books and tapes are available to reinforce the skills. These are many and varied.

Professionals and non-professionals have used the trainings to enhance their healing skills. Some of the disciplines incorporating breathwork include psychotherapists, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, physicians, dentists, massage therapists and other body and energy workers.

The uniqueness of this skill is that its origins are grassroots and always seem to defy sole ownership or patenting. Its principles can be adapted to virtually any healing or growth medium.

Breathwork transformed my life in the 1970s and continues to be my major vehicle for self-discovering and growth. People from all over the planet are finding this new way to measure their growth - not against externally imposed standards, but with a tool that enlarges their experience to their higher Self - indeed to an experience of themselves beyond measure.

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Rebirthing Breathwork

by Jim Morningstar, Ph.D.

Rebirthing breathwork is a type of breathwork and a personal growth and self-healing technique developed in the United States in the mid 70's and now practiced in many countries around the world. The rebirthing breathwork process involves: learning to breathe in such a way as to release physical tension in the body, clearing the mind of negative thoughts and limiting conclusions reached about past experience, and accepting the spiritual joy and light that result when illusions about ourselves are cleared away. On learning the technique, a rebirthee works in individual sessions with a rebirther who helps the rebirthee release fear and tension and integrate effortless breathing and new thinking into daily life. The rebirthing breathwork process is soon learned and practiced by the rebirthee individually and sometimes even shared with others.

I believe that everyone must discover his or her own rebirthing. Rebirthing breathwork does not help anyone. People help themselves, and many use rebirthing breathwork as an effective tool in their self-help process. Most people use rebirthing breathwork because its clarity and simplicity allow them to quickly get past the mind and open the doors of the heart. The power of rebirthing breathwork is that the simple act of freely breathing addresses itself directly to body, mind and spirit. As I breathe freely, body, mind and spirit blend into a single experience of simple unitary being–me. At my highest moments, I see no divisions. Rebirthing breathwork helps reinforce these moments into a more constant state.

One beauty of rebirthing breathwork is that its astounding results can be understood from many points of view, including the scientific, and they will fit together. The simplicity of rebirthing breathwork is that it needs no explanation to work, just a childlike faith in life itself. For spreading the universal love and light, for incorporating the transformation to living in your light body, rebirthing is one of the best tools I can recommend.

Transformations Incorporated provides trained breathworkers who are also credentialed psychotherapists.

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Conscious Connected Breathwork With Infants

by Regi Boehme, Occupational Therapist

As a specialist in the treatment of infants and young children with motor challenges due to birth trauma, I first began my journey of breathwork with children in hopes of assisting them in moving blocked energy stored in their physical bodies. The result of the work proved to be very worthwhile to them on a physical as well as an emotional level. In addition, I noticed that their physical releases seem to mirror the movements of fetal development and the actual birth process itself.

Over the years, I have expanded my practice to include breathwork with healthy full term infants who had poor sleeping patterns, general fussiness, early stranger anxiety and problems with digestion or elimination. Once again, it seemed to help. As an additional bonus, it served to increase parent/child bonding.

The environment used for rebirthing babies is water set at "womb" temperature. I work with babies early, between ages of one to six months before they begin crawling and prefer to explore their environment rather than float in it. Both parents are invited to join me in the water. The breathwork starts with simply supporting the baby in a way that feels secure enough for relaxed floating. The head is held slightly about water level to clear the ears, so the baby can hear the loving support of the parents.

Each baby leads its' own session. My role as a breathworker is to stay in tune with the baby's physical signals, breathing patterns, facial expressions and sound productions. Another important role is to maintain a relaxed breath cycle myself as I follow the movements of the baby.

There is great variation in what babies appear to experience. At times, they seem to enter into a state of bliss similar to the small fetus during the first trimester of life. The baby's breath is almost inaudible, the body is motionless and very light. At this time, I focus on aligning myself with the baby's internal relaxed state.

Some babies need to push with their legs, just as they pushed against the inner membrane of the uterus during the second trimester. This is a significant time for the baby and the mother, since it is the first time the expectant mother feels the fetus move and it is the first time the fetus makes contact with external sensation of the womb.

Portions of the breathwork session have a component of the early period of the last trimester where the activity level of the fetus is at its' peak. When a baby is mirroring this phase, it displays enjoyable, high energy, physical movements, pleasurable high-pitched sound play, with an irregular and rapid breathing pattern.

The core work of any session or series of sessions is the experience of birth, itself. The baby will return to the fetal position often with great hesitancy. The breath becomes more rapid with short periods of breath suspension. The facial expression may change to one of anticipation or even a worry. I am very respectful of the baby's process and offer verbal reassurance at this time. I let the baby determine how much of the fetal position it can tolerate.

The actual experience of moving through the small birth canal is mirrored by the baby's desire to push and elongate or arch the spine. Again, there are repeated periods of hesitation before the baby strongly pushes out of the fetal position. I provide a relaxed, safe atmosphere for this final stage of the birth process, giving the baby ample time and choice. Parents have reported that after a session, they feel as if they are bringing their new baby home all over again.

Breathwork with babies is a powerful experience for both the rebirther and the parents. With each baby, I experience the miracle of birth and the renewal of my own life force.

For information on trainings offered to Level 1 Breathworkers or breathwork sessions for all ages, call (414) 354-1233.

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Global Inspiration Conference–1999

Spiral Dynamics: Breathwork and Social Evolution

Speech given by Jim Morningstar, Ph. D.

Click to download and view the entire presentation given by Jim Morningstar
in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Breathwork Resources

Avid, Pauline, & McNab, David:    Healing Disease with Rebirthing,  Mrtenjai

     Press,  Wellington,  New Zealand.

Begg, Deike:    Rebirthing Freedom From your Past,   Thorsons,

     Hammersmith,   London  W6  8JB,  1999.

Dowling,  Catherine:    Rebirthing and Breathwork:  A Powerful Technique for

     Personal Transformation.  Piatkus,  UK, 2000.

Fried, Robert:  The Psychology and Physiology of Breathing in Behavioral

     Medicine, Clinical Psychology, and Psychiatry.  Plenum Publishing,  1993.

Hendricks,  Ph.D., Gay:    Conscious Breathing, Breathwork for Health, Stress

     Release, and Personal Mastery,  Bantam Books, New York, 1995.

Grof,  Stanislov:    Psychology of the Future,  SUNY,  NY,  2000.

Johnson, Don Hanlon:    Breathwork and Somatics,  A review of Bone Breath

     And Gesture:  Practices of Embodiment,  North Atlantic Books, Berkeley,

     CA,   1995

Jones,  Eve:    An Introduction to Rebirthing for Health Professionals,  Life

     Unlimited Books,  Los Angeles, CA,  1982.

Kravitz,  Judith:  Breath Deep, Laugh Loudly, The Joy of Transformational

     Breathing,  Free Press, West Hartford, CT,  1999.

Leboyer, Frederick:    Birth Without Violence,  Penguin,  1990.

Lewis,  Denis:    The Tao of Natural Breathing:  For Health, Well-Being,

     And Inner Growth.  Mountain Wind Publish, San Francisco, CA,  1997.

Leonard, Jim, and Laut, Phil:    Rebirthing - The Science of Enjoying All of Your

     Life,  Trinity Publication,  California,  1983.

Mandel, Bob, and Ray, Sondra:    Birth and Relationships,  Celestial Arts,

     California,  1987.

Minett,  Gunnel:    Breath and Spirit,  The Aquarian Press,  London, 1994.

Minett,  Gunnel, ed.:  The Spirit of Breathwork, International Breathwork

     Foundation,  UK, 2001.

Morningstar, Jim:    Breathing in Light and Love – Your Call to Breath and

      and Body Mastery,  Transformations Incorporated, Wisconsin,  1994.

Orr, Leonard, and Ray, Sondra:     Rebirthing in the New Age, Celestial Arts,

     California,  1977.

Ray,  Sondra:    Celebration of Breath,  Celestial Arts, California,  1983.

Ray, Sondra:    Loving Relationships II,  Celestial Arts,  California,  1983.

Saraswati,  Swami Ambikananda:    Principles of Breathwork,  Thorsons,

     UK, 1999.

Sisson, Colin P.:    Inner Adventures,  Total Press,  New Zealand.

Sisson,  Colin P.:   Rebirthing Made Easy,  Hay House,  California,  1987.

Sisson,  Colin P.:   Breath of Life,  Total Press Ltd.,  New Zealand, 1989.

Sparks, Tav:    The Wide Open Door:  The Twelve Steps, Spiritual Tradition & the

    New Psychology,  Hazleton, Center City, MN  1993.

Taylor,  Kylea:    The Breathwork Experience:  Exploration of Healing  in

     Nonordinary State of Consciousness,  Hanford Mead, California,  1994. 

Breathwork Journals and Internet Resources

Breathe:  The International Breathwork Magazine, editor Robert Moore, 7 Silver

     Street, Buckfastleigh,  Devon TQ11 OBQ, UK.

www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rmoore

The Healing Breath:  A Journal of Breathwork Practice, Psychology, and

     Spirituality,  editor Joy Manne, 

www.i-breathe.com

The Inner Door,  Quarterly Newsletter of the Association for Holotropic

     Breathwork International, PO Box 7167, Santa Cruz, CA  95061-7169.

www.breathwork.com

The International Journal of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine: 

     Mattes Verlag,  PO Box 103866, 69028 Heidelberg, Germany.

isppm.de/index_e.html

The International Breathwork Foundation

ibfnetwork.org/

The International Breathwork Training Alliance

www.breathworkalliance.org

Akamai University, Distance Learning Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology

www.akamaiuniversity.us

The Journal of Pre- and Peri-natal Psychology and Health:

 http://www.birthpsychology.com

Transformations Incorporated, School of Spiritual Psychology

www.transformationsusa.com

Breathwork Articles

Ehrmann, Wilfried:  “Breath is Your Companion”, paper presented at the

    Fourth Global Inspiration Conference of the International Breathwork

    Foundation,  1997.

Gorsky, Sergei:    “Breathwork – Instant Charm and Hidden Dangers”,

    paper presented at the Fourth Global Inspiration Conference of the

    International Breathwork Foundation,  1997.

Manne, Joy:  “Rebirthing, and Orphan Therapy or a Member of the Family

    of Psychotherapies?”  International Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal

    Psychology and Medicine,  1994, Vol. 6, No. 4,  pp. 503 – 517.

Morningstar, Jim:    “Breathwork – Therapy of Choice for Whom?  The Healing

     Breath:  A Journal of Breathwork Practice, Psychology, and Spirituality,   

    1997.  Editor Joy Manne, website:  http:/www.i-breathe.com

Morningstar, Jim:  “Spiral Dynamics: Breathwork and Social Evolution” 

    The Healing Breath:  A Journal of Breathwork Practice, Psychology, and

    Spirituality,  January, 2000.  Editor Joy Manne, website: 

    http:/www.i-breathe.com

Taylor,  Kylea:  “Yogic Sleep and Meditation States During Holotropic

     Breathwork”, Newsletter, June 1998, International Breathwork Foundation.